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The chaos caused by severe fuel shortages amid crippling strikes in France has spilled across the Channel, leading to an increase in breakdowns on the south coast as holidaymakers return with empty tanks.

In the worst labour unrest to grip the country for decades, 40 per cent of France’s petrol stations remained affected on Monday and six of France's eight oil refineries were still halted or running at reduced capacity.

As families begin to return to the UK following the bank holiday weekend, motoring organisations have warned of the knock-on effect of France’s fuel shortage on the south coast.

Edmund King, president of the AA, said: “We’ve had more ‘out of fuel’ break downs than normal on the south coast, with people thinking they have a bit more in the tank than they actually do.”

Mr King urged drivers returning from France with hardly any petrol to re-fill their tanks straight after crossing the border into England, adding that there may be long queues at petrol stations around ports.

“Fill up as soon as you're back, there are petrol stations around all the ports. Don’t wait until you get on to the motorways as there are fewer petrol stations,” he said.

Claire Jeffrey, town and district councillor for East Folkestone, criticised the Government for failing to advise local councils on how to deal with the increased strain on services due to the knock-on effect of strikes in France.

Demonstrators burn flares during a protest in ParisCredit:
Christophe Ena

“Unfortunately it’s a horrible reminder of last summer’s misery and Operation Stack. There seems to be no forward planning,” she said.

“Highway England and the Government could do a lot better at advising local councils and district councils about what steps could be put in place to ameliorate these circumstances.”

On Monday, pilots at Air France voted in favour of strike action over pay conditions, heaping further pressure on French President François Hollande ahead of the Euro 2016 football tournament.

We’ve had more ‘out of fuel’ break downs than normal on the south coast, with people thinking they have a bit more in the tank than they actually doEdmund King, president of the AA

Workers at the oil terminal in the northern port of Le Havre - which supplies kerosene to Paris's two main airports - voted Monday to extend their blockade until Wednesday. Rail workers are also planning stoppages that will lead to severe cuts in national train services from Wednesday.

In Paris, Métro and suburban train services will be reduced from Thursday, when CGT members are to begin a strike. Another leftist union, SUD, has called a strike from June 10, when the month-long football tournament starts.

Unions are striking over proposed measures to make it easier to hire and fire employees.

The more moderate CFDT union backs the labour reforms, which have already been watered down, to the disgust of many employers, but the hardline CGT refuses to compromise.